Yankee Stadium NHL Game Delayed Due To Glare On Ice

The start of today's Rangers-Devils Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game was "postponed because of the glare on the ice at Yankee Stadium." The game was originally set for just after 12:30pm ET, and the puck dropped at 1:42pm (ESPNNY.com, 1/26). NBC interviewed NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly during the delay. Daly said, "The sun was too bright and the glare was too much for it to be safe for the players" (“Rangers-Devils,” NBC, 1/26). Today's game and Wednesday's Islanders-Rangers matchup are both "expected to attract a crowd at or near the Stadium's capacity of about 50,000" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/25).

Meanwhile, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "didn't rule out a return to Southern California" for an outdoor game after yesterday's Ducks-Kings matchup at Dodger Stadium. The game-time temperature was "within the 60-to-64 degree temperature maintained in NHL rinks" (L.A. TIMES, 1/26). The ice surface, "while slushier than usual, was not terrible." A crowd of 54,099 was on hand for the Ducks' 3-0 victory (N.Y. TIMES, 1/26). Ducks D Francois Beauchemin said the ice conditions were "better than some NHL arenas" (ESPN.com, 1/26).